| Chapter 11 The Angels of the Seven Ekklesion |
During the wrath the chosen of Israel are either spared from
death and redeemed by God or are murdered during a
genocide of believers at the hand of the anti-Christ. Those who
die will be given a renewed immortal life in the Resurrection of
the Just. Those who are of the elect 144,000 will be glorified
with new, immortal bodies when they meet Christ on Mount
Zion. Prophesies to seven Jewish assemblies (EKKLESION),
which, in my opinion, will exist in the future, are recorded in
Revelation 2:1 through 3:22. See Revelation 1:20:
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which
are, and the things which shall be hereafter;
The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right
hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are
the angels [AGGELOI; messengers, or in this context prophets]
of the seven churches [EKKLESION, assemblies or
synagogues]: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest
are the seven churches.
In these writings (addressed not to spirits, but human leaders of
these assemblies) are revealed praise and encouragement to
the elect 144,000; and comfort and promises to those who must
die. There are also grave warnings for those immersed in
idolatry.
These Jewish assemblies of a future dispensation are not to be
confused with the first-century assemblies Paul addresses in
his epistles. Neither can the doctrine of the wrath period be
made to harmonize with the doctrine of the grace dispensation
(clearly set forth in the epistle to the Romans, etc.) One is a
doctrine of warning, the other is a doctrine of grace. One is a
doctrine of pending judgment, the other is a doctrine of
justification.
The information concerning these assemblies was given to
John by the Lord Jesus Christ as part of his vision of the Lord's
Day of Judgement. The cities named by Christ are probably
symbolic of churches that would emerge during the
dispensation of wrath (Day of the Lord); churches that probably
had the same characteristics of their first century counterparts.
Because other cities or countries mentioned in Revelation are
symbolic ie. Babylon, Sodom and Egypt. However symbolic or
literal the names may be, the point is that these prophecies will
have future application.
Most scholars think that since these seven churches all
probably were around when John wrote the Apocalypse, that
this prophesy must also be addressed to them;
If this were true the Bible would have severe doctrinal inconsis
tencies. This can not be the case for the Bible is inerrant in its
original form. Therefore, either we must conclude that the
Revelation to John is not among the canon of the scripture or
that the message is addressed to other than that of the
dispensation of Grace.
Also prophecy has a way of fulfilling itself once, twice or maybe
several times before it’s ultimate fulfillment. Prophecies of
Jerusalem’s destruction have been fulfilled at least two times
but it’s ultimate fulfillment has not yet occurred. The same with
Babylon’s destruction. Then there is the prophecy of a virgin
conceiving in Isaiah. That prophecy was fulfilled immediately in
Isaiah’s time but was ultimately fulfilled when Christ was born.
Much prophecy is like this. The prophecy to the seven
churches may have had relevance to the commending or
reproving of those first-century churches; but I believe there will
also be an ultimate fulfillment of those things spoken by John
concerning them.
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These
things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key
of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth,
and no man openeth;
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door,
and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast
kept my word, and hast not denied my name."
Of all those chosen of Israel, the ones "kept from the hour of
temptation" are the elect One Hundred and Forty-four
Thousand. In Revelation 14:4 and 9:4 this elect is described.
"These are they which were not defiled with women; for they
are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb
withersoever he goeth."
"And it was commanded of them that they should not hurt the
grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but
only those men which have not the seal of God in their
foreheads."
To establish that these are, in fact, the Jewish elect and not
Christians, Revelation 7:3-8 records a division of twelve
thousand from each tribe of Israel.
"Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till
we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there
were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of ALL
THE TRIBES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.
Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe
of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad
were sealed twelve thousand [etc]".
This elect portion of Israel will be spared both from physical
martyrdom as well as other deadly affliction. See Mark 13:20.
"And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh
should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath
chosen, he hath shortened the days."
They will be sealed with God's protection. For he will set
before them an open door which no man can shut. These elect
will be gathered together with Christ on Mount Zion. In
Revelation 14:1 this is illustrated:
"And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and
with him an hundred and forty and four thousand, having his
Father's name written in their foreheads."
These chosen are sealed by God, but must remain faithful to
obtain their rewards. As shown in Revelation 3:11:
"Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no
man take thy crown."
Those of this election will be tempted by counterfeit religion, but
will not be deceived. Just as the religious heads in the Gospels
obstructed Christ, these also will be an obstacle for this elect.
See this in Mark 13:22.
"For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew
signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the
elect."
This elect will be greatly beloved of God, and their enemies will
bow down before them. See Revelation 3:9 :
"Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which
say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make
them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I
have loved thee."
The other chosen of Israel, who are not of this 144,000, are
none the less elected, IF they stand firm upon their convictions
unto death. These must not succumb to the Anti-Christ's
coercion to commit idolatry and fornication. Neither must they
worship his image, as shown in Revelation 13:15.
"And he [the false prophet] had power to give life unto the
image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both
speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the
image of the beast should be killed."
It will be inevitable, at this time, that great persecution will
overtake the believers not elected to the 144,000. See
Revelation 13:7.
"And it was given unto him [the Anti-Christ] to make war with
the saints, and to overcome them."
In the writing to the angel of the assembly in Smyrna, there is
comfort to those who must die to achieve the Resurrection of
the Just. This is recorded in Revelation 2:10.
"Fear none of these things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the
devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried;
and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto
death, and I will give thee a crown of life."
The word "overcome" is a key word. It is used seven times in
the writing to the assemblies. It is the Greek verb NIKAO, to
gain victory. He that overcomes temptations to worship false
gods or succumb to false doctrines, such as to the Nicolaitanes
(Revelation 2:15), false Jews (Revelation 3:9), or false prophets
(Revelation 2:20), will overcome death. See Revelation 2:11.
"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the
churches: He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second
death."
The second death is the death awaiting those whose mortal
bodies will be resurrected in the Great White Throne
Judgement (or Resurrection of the Unjust). Those, whose
names are not written in the Book of Life, will have the
opportunity to bow in subjection to Christ before being cast into
the lake of fire (gehenna).
They that overcome temptation but are killed will also hold
positions of responsibility in the Kingdom of Heaven when they
are resurrected. This can be seen in Revelation 20:6.
"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection
on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be
priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a
thousand years."
Along with those chosen of Israel who died in the Patriarchal,
Law, and Christ Dispensations, these must die to attain to this
resurrection. This is figuratively illustrated in their call for
vengeance, in John's vision. Revelation 6:10 and 11.
"And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, 0 Lord,
holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on
them that dwell on the earth?
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was
said unto them; that they should rest yet for a little season,
until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should
be killed as they were, should be fulfilled."
There is a distinction made between believing and non-
believing Israel in Romans 9:6.
"For they are not all Israel who are of Israel."
The Israel chosen by God will obtain salvation. All of whom
God deems as Israel will be saved. In Romans 11:26 is written,
"and so all Israel shall be saved."
A warning to those of future Israel who are idolatrous, or hold
false doctrines is written to the messenger to the assembly in
Laodicea, in Revelation 3:15.
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would
thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and
neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth."
Here is one who is not sufficiently committed and runs the risk
of eternal separation from God. Also, those who succumb to
false doctrine and idolatry are warned to repent and become
zealous for the one true God. Revelaton 2:20-23 is written to
the messenger to the assembly at Thyatira.
"Not withstanding I have a few things against thee, because
thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a
prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit
fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave
her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.
Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit
adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of
their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the
churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins
and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to
your works."
Revelation 2:11 also records:
"He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death."
Axiomatically, those who do not overcome due to insufficient
commitment, or seduction by false prophets, will be hurt by the
second death at the time of the Resurrection of the Unjust,
along with the unsaved Gentiles. God will judge, by the first
resurrection (the Resurrection of the Just) His Israel. Those of
the nation of Israel who are not of God's chosen Israel will be
resurrected in the final judgement as depicted in
Revelation 20:15:
"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was
cast into the lake of fire."
The lake of fire seems to be the finale for the majority of
mankind. This is an important topic, because, here, the most
fundamental Christian theology embraces paganism.
Copyright Pete Lounsbury 1994